Saturday, August 16, 2008

Rakshabandhan

Today is Rakshabandhan day in India. It is bonding time for brothers and sisters.
Raksha Bandhan is a festival celebrating the bond of affection between brothers and sisters. The day when the siblings pray for each others' well being and wish for each others' happiness and goodwill. As the name 'Raksha Bandhan' suggests, 'a bond of protection', Raksha Bandhan is a pledge from brothers to protect the sister from all harms and troubles and a prayer from the sister to protect the brother from all evil.
Raksha Bandhan assumes all forms of Raksha or protection, of righteousness and destroyer of all sin. The rakhi tying ritual has become so much a part of the families that come what may brothers and sisters try to reach out to each other on this particular day bringing back the oneness of the family, binding the family together in an emotional bond.
Info sourced from http://www.raksha-bandhan.com/rakhi-traditions-and-customs.html

22 comments:

  1. Lovely photo and great information.

    What would you reply to someone who asked me this on MDS?
    I have tried time and again and miserably failed to explain fellow americans as to how an unrelated boy and girl can become brother-sister. "Why would they do that?"Help me out here.

    Colorful
    Raksha Bandhan Festival

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  2. such an interesting custom, magic! what's beautiful about it is that it somehow fosters a family's closeness ... :)

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  3. wow, and beautiful bracelets too!
    from what i understand from anu's comments, even unrelated siblings can bond like this; don't bother trying to explain it to people who find the whole idea eccentric - it will tire out both sides!

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  4. Terrific photo, and a great post! So informative! Thank you for sharing this today!

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  5. A very touching post, and an equally touching practice. The whole world could benefit from it.

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  6. More people around the world should undertake to do this. I think the world would be a much better place for doing it.

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  7. Interesting and informative. This custom should be more common around the world - it seems that it should promote healing and unity in families. Beautiful custom.

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  8. What a wonderful tradition. And the elements and moment you chose for picture are very telling. Thanks for sharing the insight into your rich culture with us.

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  9. I have never heard of a custom like this, what a wonderful idea!
    Thank you. :-)

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  10. I have never heard of a custom like this, what a wonderful idea!
    Thank you. :-)

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  11. I have never heard of a custom like this, what a wonderful idea!
    Thank you. :-)

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  12. What a super post and photo. i have two sisiters so this post touches me.

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  13. I think it is a cucstum to respect among brother or sister each other.

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  14. Thanks for the interesting information on such a precious custom

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  15. I have not heard of this tradition....what a wonderful tradition it is.....how special for brothers and sisters.....

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  16. je ne connaissais pas, c'est une très belle tradition.

    I did not know, it's a beautiful tradition.

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  17. We have some lovely traditions in India. Nice pic!

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  18. That is a really wonderful tradition. And a great picture there!

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  19. I have not heard of this tradition....what a wonderful tradition it is.....how special for brothers and sisters.....

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  20. What a wonderful tradition. And the elements and moment you chose for picture are very telling. Thanks for sharing the insight into your rich culture with us.

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  21. wow, and beautiful bracelets too!
    from what i understand from anu's comments, even unrelated siblings can bond like this; don't bother trying to explain it to people who find the whole idea eccentric - it will tire out both sides!

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